AK pistol to short barreled rifle...possible?

[Kymasabe]

I was just reading thru the handgun section and a thought occured to me. Would it be possible to take an AK pistol (which I think is pretty much useless anyway) and install a stock to convert it to a short barreled rifle? I dn't know if SBR's are in some other classification and require a different/special license or if modifying the gun would be illegal but...I thought it'd be a cool little project and a nice short rifle.

Your thoughts on the subject?

 

[Maverick223]

Not an expert, but IIRC it is quite possible, but requires a strengthening plate in the rear to support the stock. The one that comes attached is very weak. Additionally, I believe an internal type stock is difficult to install because there are parts (the rear plate and a rivet IIRC) that interfere with the stock, so an external stock (like the ACE style) would be your best bet.

IMO an SBR conversion is the only beneficial use for a Draco, as I find the pistol configuration to be terribly unwieldy. In short, I think you are on the right track.

 

[Ithaca37]

With the appropriate paper work it is not a big deal. Lots of converted dracos on arfcom in the AK picture thread.

 

[tkopp]

The rear trunion that comes on a Draco is actually quite strong. The trouble is that it does not come with the attachment point for a stock. You have to replace it, which involves some cutting and welding.

The Draco has a few things going against it. Foremost is that it is a pistol! Making it an SBR requires a $50 folding stock (may as well keep it short), a $15 rear trunion, $100 (guessing) replacement job at a gunsmith, and a $200 tax stamp. This makes your $400 novelty into a $800 rifle with no good mounting point for optics and a short sight radius on open sights.

If you must have the short barreled AK, go for it. But if you can stomach six more inches of barrel, you can get one ready to go for $500. Longer sight radius, no waiting 6 months for BATFE, quite a bit cheaper.

Put a sling on your Draco and learn to fire while putting positive pressure forward. You can either dremel the grip or add a sling plate between the grip and the receiver. Either works fine. I routinely post 4-5" free standing groups at 25y with the stock sights, and have (with slow fire) put down 2-3" groups. With optics or more practice, I think I could get there consistently.

 

[Kymasabe]

Hey Maverick. We're thinking along the same lines. I wasn't sure if there'd be room or even the necesarry parts to support a stock so, was thinking about having a Ace plate welded on the back of the receiver to support an Ace stock. I really like the gas-block/sight combo, reminds me of an MP5 and with a short stock, I think would make a great SBR.
Too bad they don't make a Draco in 7.62x25

 

[Kymasabe]

Tkopp, was also thinking about adding the Texas Weapon Systems dogleg rail with a rear peep sight so I have usable sights.

So, it may not be the best investment but...it'd be unique, not too many out there.

 

[Maverick223]

...so, was thinking about having a Ace plate welded on the back of the receiver to support an Ace stock.

Yep, that was my thoughts as well.

Too bad they don't make a Draco in 7.62x25

Pft, why settle for second best when you could get one of these: VZ.61 Scorpion? It sounds like one of these are what you are really seeking.

 

[tkopp]

Tkopp, was also thinking about adding the Texas Weapon Systems dogleg rail with a rear peep sight so I have usable sights.

So, it may not be the best investment but...it'd be unique, not too many out there.

You can do that so long as you swap for a standard rear trunion. The Dog Leg replaces the stock screw with a mounting point as its means of returning to zero. Keep in mind that the 2nd Gen is in development, and will be available ... some time. The gentleman that makes them shouldn't have mentioned it, since he doesn't have a working prototype yet and it's hurting his Gen 1 sales. The 2nd Gen replaces the dust cover and mounts somehow to the receiver without a stock mounting point. So that would be the ideal way to put a scope on a Draco, while giving a usable sight length.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan on adding a stock and improving the sights, you really ought to have an Ace or even a Tapco side folder (depending on budget). The Romanian side folder is great, but doesn't allow for an ideal cheek weld and if you're going to put that much time and money into your sights you oughtn't hamstring yourself with the stock.

Still, it sounds like waaaay more money and effort than it's worth, but if it floats your boat! If you did the work yourself it would even be a fun hobby and a great learning experience. If you go that route, consider waiting for the Gen2 Dog Leg and look into the modern left side folders at K-Var. They require you drill an extra hole on the right side of the receiver, but if you're already swapping the rear trunion it isn't that much extra work. Remember that the Gen1 Dog leg would no work with this setup since it requires the standard rear trunion.

 

[Sam1911]

A little light reading:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=529802
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=528208

Thinking of this being my next project.

 

[nalioth]

you really ought to have an Ace or even a Tapco side folder (depending on budget).

Tapco side folders suck.

Lifetime warranty? Sure. For a lifetime of crap.

Check out Sam1911's links above, and get "Tapco" out of your mind. . .

Sam, both you and the OP overlooked this one: Builiding Registered SBR from an AK "pistol" - THR (doesn't anyone use the search any more?)

 

[Sam1911]

Hey, yeah... I suck! Thanks! That's the one I was thinking of, but there were two 1st-page-recent threads on the subject, so I dropped it there.

 

[tkopp]

Tapco side folders suck.

So do Dracos.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy mine. With a sling and left as a pistol, it's accurate enough that I'd feel real comfortable taking shots at up to 25y in a self defense scenario, and I love throwing fireballs and watching people unused to the bang get a huge flinch when they try to shoot it.

But it has a short sight radius and, at best, shoots 4-6 MOA. They're inexpensive (for handguns) and quite powerful for their size, which is a real draw. If you're talking about putting a $150 stock, $120 accessory rail, $200 tax stamp, $200-$400 optic, and all that work into a rifle (or a couple hundred more at a gunsmith) ... You really ought to spend an extra hundred dollars or two and start with a better base. You might even break even, because an AR pistol or a PLR-16 will come with accessory rails standard.

So my point is; keep some perspective. Look at the whole project. How much do you want to spend? What do you want to end up with when you're done? The dirty little secret is; there is no 'best.' There's just increasingly more expensive parts, with incremental improvements on each.